Electrically-operated valve



ELEGTRICALLY OPERATED VALVE Filed Nov. 27. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet l ril/Avlll/lllllllllrll/l/ll//l//l//f/ `une 19, 1928.

E. J. PACE ELEQTRICALLY OPERATED VALVE Filed NOV. 27. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 19, A1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDGAR J. PACE, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR T PAYNE FUBNACE AND SUPPLY COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA.

ELECTRICALLY-OPERATED VALVE.

Application led November 27, 1922. Serial No. 603,508.

The present invention relates to elec Vtrically operated valves; and while it may be applied with equal success to the operation of valves for all uses, it will be hereinafter described in its preferred specific form-as used in connection with the operation of fuel supply valves, for gas heaters and the like.

Also while my improved valve will be hereinafter described as being situated upon the heater or adjacent thereto, and automatically actuated-by means of a thermostat-to regulate the fuel supply to the burners, it will be obvious that the Valve mechanism may be situated at any conveiiient point, relative to the heater, and may be also actuated by either manually operable or time controlled switches, situated adjacent thereto, or at points remote therefrom. As, for instance, in the case of the valve mechanism being located at theheater in the basement of a building, such switches may be located inthe upstairs rooms at points remote therefrom. Therefore, neither the thermostatio actuating means, nor the particular positioning of the valve mechanism hereinafter described, are to operate as a limitation upon the invention; but on the contrary are primarily given in order that the invention may be clearly described in its preferred specific form; and the reservation is hereby made that such changes or modifications in structure and arrangement may be made which will properly come within the scope of the appended claims.

The foremost object of my invention is the provision of a valve mechanism which will be simple and durable in construction inexpensive to manufacture, and positive and efficient in its operation. An important feature of my improved valve is that it may be situated in the fuel supply pipe, adjacent the heater, and automatically governed in its r actuation by the heat generated in the heater,

and operated to either turn on or oif the fuel supply to the burners, without any manual operation or control whatsoever.

A further object is the provision of an electrical actuating mechanism, combining main actuating magnets controlled by relay A magnets; the latter operating on very low amperage to eliminate arcing at the thermostatic switch.

The salient features of my invention, together with a detailed disclosure of its construction and operation, will be given in the following specification; reference being made therein to the accompanying drawings, illustrating its preferred specific form, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a view illustrating the application of my valve mechanism to the typical gas heater, showing diagrammatically its exterior wiring connection; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section taken through my valve, as indicated by the line 2-2 of Fig. 3; Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section taken therethrough, as indicated by the line Fig. 4 is a sectional view' 3-3 of Fig. 2; taken as indicated by the line 4-4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail view, taken as indicated by the line 5 5 of Fig. 3; and Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic View illustrating the valve actuating mechanism and its electrical connections.

Referring to the drawings, and first to F igl, the numeral 10 designates generally a typical gas heating furnace, of the hot-air type; having an air heating chamber 11, a fire-boi; l2, and a flue 13 surrounding the chamber 11 extending from the lire-box 12. A gas burner 14 is situated in the fire-box 12; the latter being supplied with gas fuel through a main feed pipe 15, connecting with the source of fuel supply.

My improved valve, generally designated by the numeral 16, is suitably connected in the supply pipe 15; an outlet pipe 15a ex tending therefrom and connecting it to the burner 14. A small feed pipe 17, the details of which will be later explained, leads ,from the valve 16 to a pilot burner 18 situated adjacent the burner 14; the line 17 being provided with a small cut-off valve 19, to

.regulate the fuel supply to the burner 18.

The mechanism of the valve 16 is adapted to be electrically actuated, in the present instance, by a switch mechanism, controlled by a temperature sensitive element, situated at any convenient point in or upon the heater 10, in position to be accurately influenced by the heat developed by the burner 14. In this instance I have shown such a temperature controlled switch to be in the form of a thermostatgenerally designated by y,the numeral 20-and have shown this thermostat to be situated in the hot air chamber 11, where it will be thus acted upon to accurately control the fuel supply to the burner 14, according to the amount of heat developed thereby. I will later refer to the details of construction of the thermostat 20; but for the present suffice to say that it has a switch arm 21 adapted to be operated to different positions to engage one or the other of two contact points 22 and 23. The contact points 22 and 23 are electrically connected to the valve actuating mechanism through the medium of wires24 and 25 respectively. Electrical energy for actuating the mechanism of the valve 16 may be supplied from any suitable source, but preferably from an electric lighting circuit, through a transformer-generally designated by ,the numeral 26; wires 27 and 28 leading from the opposite sides of the transformer 26, to the valve mechanism, the detailed arrangement of which will be later explained. The valve and its immediate actuating mechanism, which I will now proceed to describe, is clearly illustrated in Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5. The whole is enclosed within a casing or housing 30, consisting of front and rear walls 31 and 32, respectively, preferably constructed of cast metal plates; these two being connected together by means of an intermediate case portion 33, preferably constructed of a suitable sheet metal. Lugs 34 are cast integral with the plates 31 and 32 into which screws 35 screw-threadedly engage after passing through suitable apertures in t-he case portion 33. In this manner the case 30 is separably held together.

The valve proper, designated by the numeral 36, is preferably formed in connection with the rear plate 32; and may consist of a continuous boss 37 being thrown up upon the inner face of the plate 32, in substantially the configuration shown, to the inner face of which a closure plate 38 is removably secured by means of screws 39. A tubular connecting sleeve 40 is preferably formed integral with the plate 32, to extend outwardly therefrom, into which the fuel supply plpe 15 is screw-threadedly connected, and through which the fuel supply is passed into the chamber of the valve 36. On outlet 41, smaller in size, is likewise formed adjacent the bottom of the chamber 36, and surrounding which a tubular sleeve 42 is formed integral with the plate 32, into which the supply pipe 17 is screw-threadedly secured. When the valve is closed, as will be later explained, the fuel supply will pass into the chamber 36 through the pipe 15 and pass downwardly therethrough and outwardly through the opening 41 and pipe 17, to the This is in order that when the main valve is shut off to discontinue the fuel supply to the burner 14, a small quantity of fuel will burner 18 adjacent the burner 14. I

be supplied to the pilot burner 18 through the pipe 17 to keep it lighted and ready to ignite the main burner 14 when the main valve is opened.

The valve chamber 36 has an outlet port 43, through the closure plate 38, which opens into a tubular outlet member 44, preferably formed integral with the plate 38. The tubular member 44 is of sutlicient length to extend through an aperture 45, in the front plate 31, and to receive the externally screw threaded end of the fuel supply pipe 15, which connects with the burner 14. lVith the exception of the inlet port 4()n and outlet ports 41 and 43, the chamber 36 is gas-tight.

The outlet port 43 is adapted to be covered and uncovered by a valve 46, movably held in place against the inner face of the cover plate 38 by means of a yielding arm 47. The valve 46 has a finished face 48 which is adapted to slide in contact with a finished face 49 on the inner face of the plate 38 (see Figs. 2 and 4), concentric with the pivotal point of the arm 47. The valve 46 has a central pin or stud 50 extending outward from its rear face, and this stud extends through an aperture 51 in the arm 47 for holding it in place. Also, by reason of the stud 5() extending loosely through the aperture 51, in arm 47, the valve 46 is permitted to freely rot-ate during its oscillating motion across the surface 49, which will result in its even surface wear by frictional contact with the surface 49, and which will conduce to a close gas-tight fit between the two. The arm 47 is in the form of a flat spring; which is rigidly secured at its lower end 52 upon a rock shaft 53; the latter being revolubly journaled in a bearing 55 in the cover plate 38. The spring arm 47 is yieldingly held in close engagement with the inner face of the cover plate 38, and also'the shaft 53 held outwardly in its bearing 55, by means of a helical spring 56 surrounding a lug extension 57, on the shaft 53, and a lug 58 formed on the inner face of the rear plate 32. The arm 47 is so bent that it will yieldingly hold the valve 46 against the inner face of the cover plate 38, so the valve face 48 will always be in close frictional engagement with the surface 49. By oscillation of the rock shaft 53 the valve 46, through the medium of the spring arm 47, is oscillated across the surface 49 as shown in solid and dotted lines in Fig. 4.

The rock shaft 53 is of such length as to extend through an aperture 59, in the front cover plate 31, and a knurled knob 60 is rigidly secured thereto, so the valve mechanism may be actuated by hand, if desired.

The valve is electrically actuated in the following manner and by the following means: A rocker arm 61 has an upper bearing portion 62, by means of which it is mounted upon the rock shaft 53; being rigidly and adjustably held thereon by means of a cap screw 63.y The lower end of the arm 61 freely and removably engages in a notch 64 in a common core 65 of a pair of coaxial main operating magnets 66 and 67. The magnets 66 and 67 are of the usual solenoid type; and are situated in the bottom of the housing portion 33, on opposite sides thereof, and rigidly held in place by means of cap screws y68, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 3. rlihe magnets 66 and 67 are additionally supported and held in place by means of frame members 69; which also act as returns for the lines of magnetic force. rIhus by movement of the common core by either of the magnets 66 or 67, (to the right or left in Fig. 3) the arm 61 engaging in the notch 64 will be moved from the position shown in solid lines to that shown in dotted lines (Fig. and the valve 46, by oscillation of the arm 47, through the medium of the shaft 53, will be movedfrom the position shown in solid lines to that shown in dotted lines (Fig. 4).

In order that electrical energy may be directed to the proper one of the magnets 66 or 67, to actuate the valve at the proper time, and to eliminate arcing at the thermr static switch.20, I provide a pair of small relay magnets 70 and 71 adapted to operate on about one-fifth of an ampere mounted in opposed relation and axial alignment in the case 30, having a common core 72, as in the case of the magnets 66 and 67 and core 65. rIhe magnets 70 and 71 are likewise in the form of solenoids;.each being rigidly mounted upon blocks of insulating material 73, by means of screws 74, which blocks are in turn rigidly secured to opposite sides of the case portion 33, by means of suitable screws 75. The common core 72 carries u'at its center a downwardly depending stud 76, to the lower end of which the cross contact member 77 is secured, extending longitudi` nally of the case 30, and the function of which will be later explained. In order to guard against rotation of the core 72, and to always hold the studs 76 and contact member 77 properly in their downwardly depending position, I provide a` tubular guide member 78, extending between the magnets 70 and 71, in the bottom of which a slot 79 is-cut, and through which the stud 76 extends.

Y Two pairs of coplanar and conterminous spring contact arms 80 and 81 and 82 and 83 are rigidly secured to the insulator blocks y 7 5, on either side of the ease portion 33, and extend towards each other and towards the center of the case, terminating at their outer and adjacent ends in downwardly turned portions and spaced a slight distance apart. These Vouter adjacent downwardly turned ends of the spring arms 80 and 81 and 82 and 83, are positioned to be simultaneously engaged, in their respective pairs, by the cross contact member 77 when carried by the core 72, upon energization of either of the magnets 70 or 71.

` The opposed contacts 81 and 83 are directly connected, and preferably integral with, asimilar pair of spring contact arms 84 and 85 secured to the blocks '73 and extending outwardly therefrom in opposed relation, as in the case of the arms 81 and 83. The contact arms 84 and 85 are likewise constructed of spring metal and are positioned to normally engage contact points 86 and 87 formed on arms 87a and 88, respectively; which last mentioned arms are secured to brackets 89 and 90, respectively, rigidly secured to thebottoms of blocks 73. The contact points 86 and 87 are made vertically adjustable, relative to the arms 84 and 85, by means of small adjusting screws 91, extending throughv the brackets 89 and engaging the arms 87a and 88. A pair of diametrically opposed pins 92 and 93, constructed of a non-conductive material, are carried by the bearing portion 62 of the arm 61, and each is adapted to engage thet outer end ofit-s respective arm 84 c1185 and raise out of contact with its respective contact point 86 or 87 when the arm 61 and rock shaft 53 are moved to proper position, the object of which will be later explained.

The wires 24 and 25, leading from the contact points 22 and 23, respectively, are secured to the portion 33 of the case 30 by means of suitable binding posts 94 and 95, respectively; while the wires 27 and 28, leading from the transformer 26, are likewise secured to the switch arm 21 and binding posts 96 respectively; all the said binding posts being properly insulated from the case portion 33, and extending therethrough, as clearly shown in Fig. 3.v

Re erring now to Fig. 6, the thermostat 20 may be of any preferred construction, wherein a temperature responsive element 20a, constructed of materials of different coefficients of expansion, vwill oscillate a pivoted contact arm 21 to cause its engagement with either of the fixed contact points 22 or 23. The end of the arm 21, which is adapted to contact with either of the contacts 22 or 23, will be properly insulated from the rest of the mechanism, as illustrated. vIn this diagram the wire 27 connects one side of the transformer 26 with the contact arm 21, while the wire 28, extending from the opposite side thereof, is connected, by means of branch wires 100 and 101 with contact arms 87t1 and 88, respectively. A wire 102 also connects the wlre 27 with one end of each of the magnets 66 and 67 through branch wires 103 and 104, respectively. The opposite `ends of each of the magnets 66 and67, are connected by wires 105 and 106 with the spring contact arms and 82, respectively. Wires 24 and 25 leading from the contact points 22 and 23 connect with one end of the relay magnets 71 and 70, respectively, while the opposite end ot' these magnets are connected through wires 107 and 108 with the spring contact arms 81 and 84 and 83 and 85, respectively.

It has been previously described how, in operation, oscillation of the rock shaft 53 will move the valve 46 to cover and uncover the outlet port 43, through the medium of the spring arm 47. In Fig. 4 the solid lines indicate the valve Iin open position while the dotted lines indicate its position when covering the outlet port 43. In Fig. 2 the valve is ,shown to be closed, whilein Fig. 3 the actuating elements are illustrated their respective positions when the valve 1s open.

Referring again to Fig. 6 the-several elements shown in solid lines indicate their relative positions, when the valve is closed. The thermostat 20 is shown in its position after being expanded by heat and has moved the contact arm 21-into engagement with the Contact point 22. This has caused a closure of the clrcuit leading from the transformer 26, through wire 27, arm 21, contact point 22, wire 24, magnet 71, wire 108, contact arms and 88, wire 101 and wire 28 connected to the opposite side of the transformer 26. Just prior to the engagement of the arm 21 with the contact point 22, the core 72 and contact bar 77, contactarm 85, rocker arm 61, and studs 92 and 93 were in the positions f illustrated in dotted lines; so that when the circuit closure was made between the lever 21 and contact point 22, the contact bar 85 was in its normal engagement with the contact point 87, which permitted the circuit to be closed, thus energizing the magnet 71. This energization of magnet 71 moved the core 72 and contact bar 77 to the position shown in solid lines, causing it to engage the outer end of the spring contact arms 82 and 83, thus closing the circuit between them, which permittedelectrieal energy to flow through the wires 102 and 104, to one end of the magnet 67, and from its opposite end through wire 106, contact arm 82, contact member 77, contact arms 83, 85 and 88, through engagement of the arm 85 with the contact point 87, Wires 101 and 28, to the opposite side of the transformer 26. This caused energization of the magnet 67, drawing the core 65 linto it and moving the rocker arm 61 from the position shown in dotted lines to that shown in solid lines.

At substantially the end of this last meni tioned movement the stud 93 engaged the contact arm 85, raising it out o f contact with the contact point 87, and breaking the circuit, causing deenergization of both the relay r magnet 71 and the main actuating magnet 67. This movement causes movement of the valve 46 from the position shown in solid lines in Fig. 4 to that shown in dotted lilies, thus cutting oli", the fuel supply to the burner. The parts will all remain in this last mentioned relative position until the temperature in the heating chamber l1 has sufliciently cooled as to cause the thcrmostatic element 20 to move the contact arm 2l 'from the position shown in solid lines (Fig. 6) to that shown in dotted lines, or into engagement with the contact point 22S. Vv'hen this is done the circuit will be closed through wires 27, arm 21, contact point 23, wire 25, to relay magnet 70, and from the opposite side of this magnet through wire 107, contact arms 84 and 87a, and wires 100 and 28, back to the o posite side of the transformer 26. This wi l cause energization of the relay magnet 70, which will draw the core 72 into it, and move the contact bar 77 from the position shown in solid lines to that .shown in dotted lines, where it will engage both of the spring arms 80 and 8l, and closing the circuit through them. This engagement of the bar 77 with arms 80 and 81 will effect a closure of the circuit. through wires 102 and 103, to one end of the magnet 66, and from the opposite end of this magnet through wire 105, Contact arm 80, contact bar 77, contact arms 81, 84 and 87, and Wires and 28, thus energizing the main actuating magnet 66. Energizing magnet 66 will cause it to draw the core 65 into it, and move the rocker arm 61 from the position shown in solid lines to that ,shown ,in dotted lines thereby causing an opening movement of the valve; and when this move ment is completed the stud 92 will engage the contact arm 84 and raise it out of contact with the contact point 86, thus effecting a deenergizatlion of both the relay magnet 70 and the main magnet 66. After this last mentioned operation the several elements will remain in their last mentioned respective positions until the heat generated in the chamber 11 will reach a point sutlicient to cause movement of the contact arm 2l, through its expansion of the element 20, from the positlon shown in dotted lines to that shown in solid lines, after which the mechanism will be actuated to again shut o the gas supply to the burner, in the manner tirst described.

While I have shown and described the preferred specific form of my invention, I nevertheless reserve the right to malte such changes or modilications in structure as will properly come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A valve, a pair of opposed electro-mag nets having a common core, operating connections between the core and the valve to .open and close the same by energization o1' said electro-magnets in succession, a pair of opposed relay magnets having a common core, a circuit'closing member carried by said core and adapted to be actuated by movement thereof -when the relay magnets are energized alternately, normally open circuits including the operating magnets, circuits including the relay magnets, and means for closing the relay circuits successively to actuate the circuit closing member, said member, in its actuation, being adapted to close the operating magnet circuits in succession.

2. A valve, a pair of opposed electro-mag- V nets having a common core, operating connections between the core and the valve to open and close the same by energization of said electro-magnets in succession, a pair'of opposed relay magnets having a common core, a circuit closing member carried by said core and adapted to be actuated by movement thereof when the relay magnets are energized alternately, normally open circuits including the operating magnets, circuits including the relay magnets, and means for closing the relay circuits successively to actuate the circuit closing member, said member, inits actuation, being adapted to close the operating magnet circuits in succession, normally closed switches in Said circuitsand means for opening one of said switches at the end of each valvemovement to de-energize the electro-magnets and relay magnets.

3. An oscillatory valve, a pair of opposed electro-magnets havinga common core, operating connections between the core and the valve to oscillate it to open and close the same by energization of said electro-magnets in succession, aipair of opposed relay magnets havingza common core, acircuit closing member carried by said core and adapted to be actuated by movement thereof when the relay 'magnets are energized alternately, normally open circuits including the operating magnets,y circuits including the relay magnets, and means for closing the relay circuits successively to actuate the circuit closing member, said member, in its actuation, being adapted to close the operating magnet circuits in succession, normally closed switches in said circuits and a member oscillating with said valve for opening one of said switches at the end of each valve oscillationfto de-energize the electro-magnets and relay magnets.

4. A valve, means supporting said valve for oscillation, a pair of opposed electromagnets having a common core, connections between said core and said means, relay magnets, means for energizing said relay magnets, circuits including said electro-magnets and said relay magnets and having normally closed, common switches means for energizing the electro-magnets by the o eration of the relay magnets, and means or opening one of said switches to de-en'ergize all of said magnets.

5. A valve, means supporting said valve for oscillation, a pair of opposed electromagnets having a common core, connections between said core and said means, relay magnets, means for energizing'said relay magnets, circuits including said electro-magnets and said relay magnets and having normally closed, common switches, means for energizing the electro-magnets by the operation of the relay magnets, and a member carried by the valve supporting means for opening one of said switches to de-energize all of said magnets.

6. A valve, a pair of electro-magnets arranged to open and close s aid valve, a pair of relay magnets, means for energizing said relay magnets in alternation, means whereby the energization of one of said relay magnets initiates energization of one of the electro-magnets, and means operated by the actuation of the electro-magnets to deenergize all of said magnets.

7 A valve, a pair of opposed electro-mag-v nets having a common core, a connection between said core and the valve whereby successive energization of said electro-magnets will move the core to open or close the valve, a pair of opposed relay magnets having a common core, said relay magnets operating on comparatively low amperage, means in connection with said relay magnet core whereby successive energization of said relay? magnets will effect the successive energization of said valve actuating magnets to open or close the valve, means to effect the successive energization of said relay magnets and means to effect the de-energization of all of said magnets at the end of the opening or closing movement.

8. A member tov be moved in opposite directions, a pair of electro-magnets to successively move said member in opposite direcL tions, a pair of relay magnets to eifect the energization of said actuating magnets, a source of electrical energy, normally open circuits connecting the relay magnets with the source of electrical energy, the said member actuating magnets being connected in the relay magnet circuits in parallel with the relay magnets, normally open switches in the member actuating magnet circuits, means to eliect the closure of either of said relay magnet circuits and means operable b said Arelay magnets to effect closures 0f-eit er of said open switches in the member actuating magnet circuits to energize said last mentioned magnets to open or close the valve.

9. A member to be moved in opposite directions, a pair of electro-magnets to successively move said member in opposite directions, a pair of relay magnets to effect the energization of said member actuating magnets, a source of electrical energy, normally open circuits connecting the relay magnets with the source of electrical energy, the member actuating magnets being connected in the relay magnet circuits in parallel with the relay magnets, normally closed switches in the relay magnet circuits, normally open switches in the member actuating magnet circuits, the lines in which said open switches are connected being connected to the lines of the relay magnet circuits intermediate the relay magnets and said normally closed switches, means to elect a closure of either of said relay magnet circuits, means operable by the relay magnets to successively close the switches in the actuating magnet circuits to energize the latter to move the member one Way or the other, and means operable to open one of said normally closed switches to (le-energize the energized magnets at the end of each movement.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed mynaine this 8th day of November, 1922.

EDGAR J. PACE. 

